Protective effects of neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss ) seed oil on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

Background: Azadirachta indica  (neem) seed oil was evaluated for its hepatoprotective effect. Liver damage was induced using carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) while silymarin served as a positive control. Aim:  This study is aimed at testing the hepatoprotective potentials of  A. indica  seed oil on Wistar rats. Method:  Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of 1.0 mL/kg of CCl 4  subcutaneously to 72 healthy Wistar rats of both sexes (weight range: 145 g – 315 g). The seed oil of  A. indica  was orally administered daily in various doses of 0.25 mL/kg, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg for 14 days. Animal body and organ weights were recorded, while blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, haematological and histological analyses. Results:  Treatment with neem seed oil lowered the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels significantly ( P 0.05) when compared with the control. Histology assessment was in agreement with the biochemical result as tissues of CCl 4  exhibited significant fatty tissue accumulation, as opposed to that of 0.25 mL/kg neem treatment, which showed only moderate accumulation of fatty tissues, while higher doses, 0.5 mL/kg and 1.0 mL/kg, showed a healthy liver as compared with the control. Conclusion:  The result of this study revealed that neem seed oil had a dose-dependent hepatoprotective effect on the experimental rats.